Speeding, no tag prompts traffic stop, nets two pounds of marijuana

Thursday

Jul 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM

A Shawnee police officer clocked a vehicle without a license plate traveling 84 mph on Interstate 40 Wednesday morning, which resulted in a traffic stop, a K-9 alert and the discovery of two pounds of marijuana. Two arrests were made.

Kim Morava

A Shawnee police officer clocked a vehicle without a license plate traveling 84 mph on Interstate 40 Wednesday morning, which resulted in a traffic stop, a K-9 alert and the discovery of two pounds of marijuana. Two arrests were made.

Shawnee Police Chief Russell Frantz said he had a full crew of officers on duty so they were working enforcement in the safety corridor areas.

That's when Cpl. Darrell Williams spotted a Nissan Maxima traveling westbound on the highway, Frantz said, with radar showing the driver was going 14 miles over the posted speed limit. The officer then noticed the vehicle had no tag.

A traffic stop was conducted, with the driver exiting onto Harrison Street in Shawnee.

Cpl. David Gonzales and his K-9 partner also were involved in the stop, Frantz said, with the police dog alerting to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.

The officers, including Cpl. James Woods, searched the vehicle and discovered nearly two pounds of marijuana, the chief said.

As a result, officers made two arrests. A child who was traveling with them was taken into protective custody and placed in the Hope House shelter until relatives could be located, Frantz said.

Along with the marijuana, Frantz said $1,720 in cash was seized, along with a 9mm pistol. Officers seized the vehicle as well.

The two suspects were being held on complaints of trafficking in controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, driving under suspension and speeding, the chief reported. Police weren't releasing any names Wednesday, but Frantz said the group was reported to be from California.

The preliminary investigation revealed they were allegedly traveling back to California from Alabama, with information from the probe indicating they were "making runs back and forth," the chief said.